Visual indicator and fluid dispenser

ABSTRACT

A visual indicator display device includes a bracelet, a transparent capillary chamber, and a displacement member. The transparent capillary chamber is matched to an indicia and has a primary length and a width less than the primary length. The displacement member is functionally disposed at one end of the capillary chamber and is responsive to a measureable input for moving a fluid contained therein a defined amount.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.13/391,387, filed Apr. 17, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/235,725, filed 21 Aug. 2009 and U.S.Provisional Application 61/349,897, filed 31 May 2010, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

COPYRIGHT & LEGAL NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. Further, no reference to third party patents orarticles made herein is to be construed as an admission that the presentinvention is not entitled to antedate such material by virtue of priorinvention,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to indicators and in particular analog visualindicators used to dispense a measured amount of liquid.

Analog indicators have existed since time immemorial. The hour glass,for example, uses sand or fluid which, influenced by the weight ofgravity, moves from one reservoir to another by passing through a smallaperture therebetween. Another example of an ancient analog indicator isthe “Clepsydra”, as illustrated in “Horloges Anciennes” by Richard Müheand Horand M. Vogel, French Edition, Office du Livre, Fribourg, 1978,page 9.

Referring to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,598 describes an instrument 1having a movement 2, a drive shaft 3, cams 4, pistons 5, fluid filledcapillaries 6 and a relief chamber 7 used to indicate time. Automatedfluid dosage devices exist. A typical insulin pump is a computerizeddevice that looks like a pager and is usually worn on the patient'swaistband or belt. The pump is programmed to deliver small, steady dosesof insulin throughout the day. Additional doses are given to cover foodor high blood glucose levels. The pump holds a reservoir of insulin thatis attached to a system of tubing called an infusion set. Most infusionsets are started with a guide needle, then the plastic cannula (a tiny,flexible plastic tube) is left in place, taped with dressing, and theneedle is removed. The cannula is usually changed every 2 or 3 days orwhen blood glucose levels remain above target range. However, suchdevices are bulky and are not always located at a place on the body thatis easy to access or read.

Referring to FIG. 2, a wrist worn device, such as the “GLUCOWATCH” isknown. This prior art device, said to be developed in 2001, has a casing8 supported on a bracelet 9. A reservoir dispenses insulin onto a patchsimilar to a transdermal medication patch used for smoking cessation andhormone therapy. It therefore provides a non-invasive, needle-freemethod of enhancing and controlling the transport of water-soluble ionicdrugs out of the skin and surrounding tissues using a low level ofelectrical current.

These prior devices are cumbersome, requiring significant or dedicatedspace for indicating the value, lack accuracy or only are too costly formany users.

What is needed is a visual indicator that provides a quickly readindication of a measured dosage value and is inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A visual indicator display device includes a bracelet, a transparentcapillary chamber, and a displacement member. The transparent capillarychamber is matched to an indicia and has a primary length and a widthless than the primary length. The displacement member is functionallydisposed at one end of the capillary chamber and is responsive to ameasureable input for moving a fluid contained therein a defined amount.

An object of the invention is to provide a visual indicator which takesup minimal space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible visualindicator which adapts to requirements which do not readily permit astraight, rigid indicator, such as when such indicator is worn on awrist, ankles, a head or around or along some part of human body, or onobjects such as clothes and sporting articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aesthetic, comfortable,reliable and intellectually attractive indicator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of fluids suchas drugs, medication, ointment, oils or perfumes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side, cross-sectional view of an analog indicator of theprior art.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a second indicator of the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a side, cross sectional view of a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a second perspective view of the second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5A is a second embodiment of the invention, used as a drugdispenser.

FIG. 5B is a side view of a cartridge for use in the embodiment of FIG.5A.

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of a cartridge for use in the embodimentof FIG. 5A, shown in a flexed state.

FIG. 6 is a partially disassembled view of the fluid displacement deviceof the invention, having one reservoir.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a reservoir and displacement memberof the invention, showing features which aid in initializing theinvention.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figuresare illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, dimensions may be exaggerated relative toother elements to help improve understanding of the invention and itsembodiments. Furthermore, when the terms ‘first’, ‘second’, and the likeare used herein, their use is intended for distinguishing betweensimilar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential orchronological order, Moreover, relative terms like ‘front’, ‘back’,‘top’ and ‘bottom’, and the like in the description and/or in the claimsare not necessarily used for describing exclusive relative position,Those skilled in the art will therefore understand that such terms maybe interchangeable with other terms, and that the embodiments describedherein are capable of operating in other orientations than thoseexplicitly illustrated or otherwise described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention in any way as they are exemplary in nature and serve, todescribe the best mode of the invention known to the inventors as of thefiling date hereof. Consequently, changes may be made in the arrangementand/or function of any of the elements described in the disclosedexemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

A visual indicator display device includes a bracelet, a transparentcapillary chamber, and a displacement member. The transparent capillarychamber is matched to an indicia and has a primary length and a widthless than the primary length. The displacement member is functionallydisposed at one end of the capillary chamber and is responsive to ameasureable input for moving a fluid contained therein a defined amount.

A suitable fluid may be an oil, a lotion, or a liquid such as a drug orother medication. The displacement member is attached to one end of thecapillary chamber which is responsive to a measureable input fordisplacing the indicator surface thus allowing the user to read ameasurement from the indicia.

Referring to FIG. 3, an analog indicator 10 of the invention indicatesdosage. The indicator 10 includes a reservoir 12, a pump 14, a measuringdevice 16, a feedback circuit in a controller 20 and a power supply 22′.The reservoir 12 has a longitudinal axis 24 along which a indicia or ascale device 26 is disposed and is adapted for containing a fluid 28bounded by at least an indicator surface 30. In a preferred embodiment,the pump 14 is made up of the plunger 32 mounted on a screw 33 driven bya micro motor 34. The plunger 32 generally uses an O-ring seal 29disposed about its circumference, to seal against the fluid 28 passingbetween the top and bottom surface 31 and 35, respectively, of theplunger. The pump 14 pumps the fluid 28 out of the reservoir 12, andinto the catheter 36. In a preferred embodiment, the measuring device 16is an electronic clock which measures dine and communicates a measuredvalue of time to the feedback circuit 20. The feedback circuit 20,powered by the power supply 22, receives a measured time input from themeasuring device 16 corresponding to a position on the scale device 26and, in response thereto, activates the pump 14 to pump or move thefluid 28 out of the reservoir 12, until the surface 30 reaches a desiredposition in relation to the corresponding position on the indicia 26(generally calibrated to equal a desired rate of dispensing of thefluid). The power supply 22 powers the pump 14 and feedback circuit 20.As shown, the reservoir 12 communicates the fluid 28 into the catheter36. A clasp 52 connects ends of the device 10 to create a bracelet 21.

Further, optionally, an optical fiber and an LED light source illuminatethe fluid 28 in the reservoir 12 in a known manner.

A potentiometer 56 regulates the voltage setting to a displacementcontrol system 60. The displacement control system 60 includes anincremental position sensor 62, for example, the tracker NSE-5310 (thespecification of which is attached as Appendix A to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/235,725, filed 21 Aug. 2009, incorporated herein byreference hereto) located adjacent the plunger 32. This control system60 includes encoding for direct digital output, in which a hall elementarray on the chip 62 is used to derive the incremental position of anexternal magnetic strip 64 placed adjacent the chip at a distance ofapproximately 0.3 mm (typically), the magnetic strip 64 being attachedto the plunger 32 in order to translate therewith. This sensor arraydetects the ends of the magnetic strip to provide a zero referencepoint.

In an alternate embodiment, the power supply 22 can be solar cells, awound watch spring, movement captured by an oscillating mass (such asused in automatic watches), or a pneumatic system storing compressedair.

To return the fluid 28 to an initial position, such as 6:00 AM, forexample, the plunger 32 may be returned by a return spring 40 or amagnetic device (not shown). Other options are conceivable, of course,which include the return line 42, which allows simple reversing of themotor 34 to reset the indicator 10.

A suitable motor 34 is referred to by its trademark SQUIGGLE™, availablefrom New Scale Technologies, Inc, of New York, USA.

Referring now to FIG& 4A and 4B, an application of the analog indicatorof the invention is a wrist watch or necklace 10 worn around the user'swrist. The reservoir 12′ may be made of a transparent or translucentmaterial, or a mixture of transparent and translucent material, formedin any desired shape. It may be made of plastic, rubber, silicon or anysuitable material. An elastic material has the advantage that thebracelet 21′ may be stretched over the user's wrist. In addition, thefluidic display 23 may be supplemented with a standard watch face 39 onthe casing 43.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, the invention may be configured as a device10″ used to administer doses of liquid drugs 28 such as insulin. In suchan embodiment, the flexible tube is a disposable drug reservoircartridge 12′ attached to housing 13 containing a dosage control device18. The device 10″ is carried like a wrist watch, with the flexiblecartridge 12′ serving as a portion of the hand thereof. The indicator10″ includes the reservoir 12′, a linear drive 14′, an optional feedbackcircuit 16′, a controller 20′, and a power supply 22′. The reservoir 12′has a longitudinal axis 24′ along which indicia 26′ is disposed and isadapted for containing the fluid 28 bounded by at least an indicatorsurface 30′. In a preferred embodiment, the linear drive 14′ drives aspherical plunger 32′ mounted on a long flexible threaded shaft 33′which is driven by a micro motor 34′. The shaft 33′ is preferably madeof a superelastic material such as NITINOL. The linear drive 14′ drivesthe plunger 32′ against the piston 35 (preferably made of a flexiblematerial such as rubber) which in turn presses the fluid 28 along thereservoir 12′ and ultimately through the cannula tube or catheter 36′,which then guides the fluid 28 into the patient's body. The electronicsof the device 10″ ensures that a programmed dosage of fluid isadministered at regular intervals or constantly as prescribed by aphysician. Note that optionally, the fluid 28, instead of passing into awearer's body via a cannula, charges an absorptive patch 25 worn by thepatient, for slow diffusion of the drug into the patient's body throughthe skin. Where a medication is administered via a patch 25, the patchmay include an outer layer which is semi-permeable, in order to preventthe medication from evaporating before it has its intended effect (i.e.diffusion into the skin). Further, a perfume may be delivered in asimilar manner. Particularly for the perfume dispensing embodiment, thepatch may be located partially or entirely under the housing 13, or tothe side of the housing and may be affixed thereto using a temporaryadhesive rather than directly to the living organism, in order to avoidthe need to attach the same to the living organism. Such a patch may besized to be replaced in a defined area (such as circular area marked 39)against the back or any side of the housing 13, adjacent the livingorganism, much like a “POST-IT” note, so that replacement patches canreadily replace soiled patches.

In a preferred embodiment, the number of turns of the linear drive 14′is recorded and controlled so as to ensure the proper dosage. Theelectronics are powered by the power supply 22′. Alternatively, theposition of the piston 35 can be controlled in the manner as describedin the above embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The cartridge 12′ installs onone side 13′ of the housing 13, with its piston 35 adjacent the plunger32′, and on the other side 13″, adjacent a piercing mechanism 50 whichincludes a piercing tube 52 connected to a slidable tab 54. The user mayslide the tab 54 to cause the piercing tube 52 to pierce the uppermembrane 56 of the cartridge 12′, in order to permit the communicationof the fluid 28 through the cannula 38 into the patient's body. Whereperfume is dispensed, this piercing served to open one end of thecartridge 12′ to allow the delivery of perfume into the air, or via aconductive channel (not shown), to, near, or adjacent the skin of theuser (for example, directly to and through the patch).

In the embodiment using an external magnetic strip (having a magneticcharacteristic where the magnetic field generated thereby increases ordecreases along the length of the cartridge) attached to or integratedon the cartridge 12′, the computer controller can use this to regulatethe dosage administered to the patient.

As with the prior embodiment, the power supply 22′ can be a battery,solar power, a wound watch spring, an oscillating mass (such as used inautomatic watches), or a pneumatic system storing compressed air.

After a cartridge 12′ is fully dispensed, a button (not shown) on thehousing 13 can be activated to retract the plunger 32′. The piston 35remains stationary to prevent any aspiration of fluid from the patient,should the cannula still be connected to the. body. Once retracted, thedevice 10″ can be reloaded with a replacement cartridge 12′.

As with the earlier embodiment, a suitable motor 34 is the SQUIGGLE™motor already described.

Note, that the housing 13 can be fitted with a watch face 39 andcorresponding movement (not shown), in order that the drugadministration device can also serve as a wrist watch.

Optionally, the threaded rod 33′ of the drug administration device 10″is enclosed in a tube 41 which connects on the side 13″ of the housing13′ and wraps around the wearer's wrist to reconnect to the side 13′ ofthe housing, giving the visual effect of a two or multi-banded wristwatch.

It is foreseen that the cartridge 12′ used in such drug administrationdevice 10″ would include a chemical litmus-type indicator which wouldindicate whether the insulin or other drug is suitable for continuedinjection. This indication could be expressed by an element of thecartridge 12′ changing color, from a color that indicates the fluid issuitable for use, to another color that indicates the fluid is no longersuitable for use.

Still further, the device 10″ can be used as a perfume dispenser byreplacing the cannula with an aspirating head which can be manually (viaa dispenser head or button) or automatically (via the dosage control ofthe invention) operated.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in an alternate embodiment, a cam 152 attachedto the stem of a watch movement 132, connects to a fluid displacementdevice 90 via a piston shaft 160, mounted on sealed hearings 162 toaxially translate, which is guided in its axial translation by a camsurface 164 thereof. The piston shaft 160 is connected to a piston head166 which acts against a flexible roiling diaphragm 170 of a reservoir36′ (alternatively, of course the piston may have an O-ring mountedabout it's periphery or be otherwise sealed, as shown in the embodimentof FIG. 3) The rolling diaphragm 170 has a flange 172 which is sealinglyfixed at one end so as to effectively separate a fluid 28 from below thepiston head 166, from a fluid 28′ (which may include air as a fluid gas)above the piston. The reservoir 36′ is shown in an extreme position. toA passageway 112′ leads to the capillary channel 120, and a passageway110′ provides a return passage to the opposite side of the piston head166.

The cam 152 is formed resembling a nautilus spiral so as toprogressively move the piston shaft 160 and therefore the piston head166 to displace a determined amount of fluid 28 into the capillarychannel 120, at a rate which will indicate the time accurately. Ofcourse, a similar determined amount of drug or perfume may beadministered to living organism in this manner as well

Referring now to FIG. 7, again, the alternate fluid displacement device90 is shown in which the reservoir 36″ is in an essentially filledposition. A keyway 180 formed on the piston shaft 160 mates with a setscrew 182 which screws into the keyway via threads in the fluid displaysubassembly 20′, in order to prevent the piston shaft from rotating onits axis, thereby better maintaining the relationship between theextreme end 184 of the piston shaft and the. cam surface 164′. Inaddition, an adjustment screw 186 having an O-ring seal 190 mounted in arecess therein includes an “ALLEN” or “TORX” interface in an exteriorend 192 thereof which allows factory adjustment of the position of themeniscus 30 for calibration purposes. A septum or access port 194 (notshown) or pair thereof, made of an elastic material, may also be used toallow removal and injection of air and fluid 28′ and 29′ into and out ofcapillary channel 102. and/or reservoir 36″.

It should be noted that the invention 10, 10′, 10″ may be made exclusiveof all electronics (such as would typically be the case where theinvention is positioned in the luxury watch market). In such embodiment,the power source 22″ may be movement from an oscillating mass, whichwinds a watch spring, which powers a gear train, for which the rate ofrotation is controlled by a pendulum-like regulator or oscillating disk(e.g., a balancier/turbion), which has a characteristic period, as knownin the art.

Other embodiments are shown and described in appendices attached to thepriority filings, which is incorporated herein in this writtendescription. Further, this application incorporates by reference thecontents of PCT Appl. No. PCT/EP2010/______ of the same applicant,entitled FLUID INDICATOR, filed on the 20^(th) of August, 2010 thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto andrelied upon.

It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown anddescribed herein are representative of the invention and its best modeand are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in anyway. Furthermore, any connecting lines shown in the various figurescontained herein are intended to represent exemplary functionalrelationships and/or physical couplings between various elements. Itshould be noted that many alternative or additional physical connectionsor functional relationships may be present and apparent to someone ofordinary skill in the field.

Moreover, the apparatus, system and/or method contemplates the use, saleand/or distribution of any goods, services or information having similarfunctionality described herein.

The specification and figures are to be considered in an illustrativemanner, rather than a restrictive one and all modifications describedherein are intended to be included within the scope of the inventionclaimed, even if such is not specifically claimed at the filing of theapplication. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should bedetermined by the claims appended hereto or later amended or added, andtheir legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples describedabove. For instance, steps recited in any method or process claimsshould be construed as being executable in any order and are not limitedto the specific order presented in any claim. Further, the elementsand/or components recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled orotherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations toproduce substantially the same result as the present invention.Consequently, the invention is not limited to the specific configurationrecited in the claims.

Benefits, other advantages and solutions mentioned herein are not to beconstrued as necessary, critical, or essential features or components ofany or all the claims.

As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any variationthereof, are intended to refer to a non-exclusive listing of elements,such that any process, method, article, composition or apparatus of theinvention that comprises a list of elements does not include only thoseelements recited, but may also include other elements described in thisspecification. The use of the term “consisting” or “consisting of” or“consisting essentially of” is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the enumerated elements named thereafter, unless otherwiseindicated. Other combinations and/or modifications of theabove-described elements, materials or structures used in the practiceof the present invention may be varied or otherwise adapted by theskilled artisan to other design without departing from the generalprinciples of the invention.

The patents and articles mentioned above are hereby incorporated byreference herein, unless otherwise noted, to the extent that the sameare not inconsistent with this disclosure.

Other characteristics and modes of execution of the invention aredescribed in the appended claims.

Further, the invention should be considered as comprising all possiblecombinations of every feature described in the instant specification,appended claims, and/or drawing figures which may be considered new,inventive and industrially applicable.

Multiple variations and modifications are possible in the embodiments ofthe invention described here. Although certain illustrative embodimentsof the invention have been shown and described here, a wide range ofmodifications, changes, and substitutions is contemplated in theforegoing disclosure. While the above description contains manyspecifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope ofthe invention, but rather as exemplifications of one or anotherpreferred embodiment thereof. In some instances, some features of thepresent invention may be employed without a corresponding use of theother features. In addition, the term “flexible” as used hereinencompasses the concept of variable, in that a variable volume reservoirshould be considered a flexible chamber, even if no individualcomponents flex. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the foregoingdescription be construed broadly and understood as being given by way ofillustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the inventionbeing limited only by the claims which ultimately issue in thisapplication.

What is claimed is 1-33. (canceled)
 34. A visual indicator displaydevice comprising: a bracelet adapted to be worn around an appendage ofa wearer; a chamber at least partially visible to the wearer, forcontaining at least one fluid, the visible portion of the chamber beingmatched to an adjacent indicia for measuring, such fluid, the chamberhaving a primary length and a width. less than the primary length; and adisplacement member functionally disposed at one end of the chamberwhich is responsive to a measurable input to move the fluid containedtherein a defined amount.
 35. The visual indicator of claim 34 whereinthe primary length is a circumferential length.
 36. The visual indicatorof claim 34 wherein the width is a radial width.
 37. The visualindicator of claim 34, wherein the primary length is a spline length.38. The visual indicator of claim 34, wherein the bracelet is thechamber and the chamber is flexible.
 39. The visual display of claim 34wherein the displacement member is a piston located at the first end ofthe chamber, the piston having a rear face and a front driving face toadvance the fluids in the chamber in a first direction.
 40. The visualdisplay of claim 39 further comprising a first flexible reservoircontaining first fluid located between the front face of the piston andthe first end of the chamber, where the reservoir is responsive to thepiston to move the fluid in the chamber.
 41. The device of claim 34,wherein the displacement member activates a flexible diaphragm to movethe fluid contained therein a defined amount.
 42. The device of claim34, wherein the chamber is a capillary chamber.
 43. The device of claim34, wherein the chamber is transparent.
 44. The device of claim 39,wherein the piston is flexible.
 45. A visual indicator display devicecomprising: a bracelet adapted to be worn around an appendage of awearer, the bracelet comprising at least one half loop around the wearerin which an elongated drive is disposed, and a reservoir comprising atleast one half loop around the wearer, the reservoir at least partiallyvisible to the wearer formed to contain at least one injectible fluid,the visible portion of the reservoir being matched to an adjacentindicia for measuring such fluid; and a displacement member functionallydisposed proximate one end of the reservoir and responsive to ameasureable input for activating a member to move the fluid containedtherein along the reservoir a defined amount.
 46. The device of claim45, wherein at least a portion of the elongated drive is made ofNITINOL.
 47. The device of claim 45, wherein the elongated driveincludes a rack.
 48. The device of claim 47, wherein the rack is athread formed on an elongated portion of the elongated drive.